Hybrid Tea Rose plant named ‘WEKhilpurnil’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Hybrid Tea rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of lavender blushed purple coloration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea Rose.The varietal denomination of the new variety is Rosa hybrida‘WEKhilpurnil’. It has as an undisseminated seedling of Applicant'screation as its seed parent with the following genetic origin (BlueberryHill×Stephen's Big Purple) and as its pollen parent the variety known as‘DELnible’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,671).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combination of characteristics: its strong citrus-likefragrance, its yellow-green styles and its lavender blushed purpleflower coloration. The plant has an upright growing habit, suitable foroutdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Upland, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKhilpurnil’ maybe asexually propagated by budding or grafting. The budding and graftingsuccessfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv. ‘Dr.Huey’.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, anundisseminated seedling of Applicant's creation with the followinggenetic origin (Blueberry Hill×Stephen's Big Purple), by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKhilpurnil’ bears largeflowers, with about 10.6 to about 12.5 cm in diameter, of lavenderblushed purple coloration and double petalage with about 34 to 45petals, the undisseminated seedling bears significantly smaller flowers,with about 6.4 to about 8.5 cm. in diameter, of deep purple colorationand semi-double petalage with about 19 to 26 petals. The new variety hasan upright growing habit, whereas the seed parent has a significantlysmaller bushy rounded mature growing habit.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘DELnible’by the following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKhilpurnil’bears flowers with double petalage, about 34 to 45 petals, ‘DELnible’bears flowers with significantly lesser petalage, with about 25 to 30petals. ‘WEKhilpurnil’ bears many large prickles and some small prickleson its major stems and branches, whereas ‘DELnible’ bears few largeprickles and no small prickles on its major stems and branches. The newvariety has an upright medium height growing habit, whereas the pollenparent has a significantly taller upright spreading mature growinghabit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates specimens of the new variety andshows the flowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color asnearly correct as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, England (1966), except where common terms of color definitionare employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Upland, Calif. in the month of October.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION:

The new variety botanical designation is Rosa hybrida ‘WEKhilpurnil’.

FLOWER

The new variety sometimes bears its flowers singly, usually in clustersof three to five or more per stem. Flowers may be borne in regularrounded clusters on strong medium to long stems (about 46 to about 72cm.). Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearly continuouslyduring the growing season. The flowers have a strong citrus blossomfragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 5.2 to about 8.6 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.3 to about 0.5 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It isalmost entirely smooth, with some stipitate glands and hairs. Pedunclecolor is between 144A and 148A, sometimes lightly suffused, especiallyon the side exposed to the sun, with between 187C and 183C.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.6 to about 2.3 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.9 to about 2.7 cm. in length, andovoid to somewhat pointed in shape. The surface of the bud bears somefoliaceous appendages and hairs, usually with slender entire foliaceousparts extending beyond the tip of the bud about ¼ or more of its length.Bud color is between 146A and 146B, sometimes lightly suffused,especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 183B.

The sepals are about 2.4 to about 4.1 cm. in length and about 0.8 toabout 1.4 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 146A and 146B, sometimes lightly suffused,especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 183B.The inner surface color of the sepal is between 137C and 138A andcovered with fine wooly tomentum; sepal margins are lined with somestipitate glands and hairs.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 2.1 toabout 2.7 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 2.6 to about 3.5cm. in length, and ovoid in form. The color of the under surfaces of thenewly opened petals is between 69C and 69B, usually strongly suffused,especially on the outermost petals with between 59A and 185A. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofbetween 1C and 1D. The color of the upper surfaces of the newly openedpetals is between 80D and 78D. At the point where the petal attaches,there is a moderately large zone of between 1C and 1D.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 10.6 to about 12.5 cm. indiameter. Petalage is double with about 34 to 45 petals and about 3 to 9petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom form ismoderately high centered to somewhat cupped, and the petals aremoderately tightly spiraled to cupped with petal edges somewhat reflexedoutward. When fully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petalsare loosely cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward.

PETALOIDS

Petaloids are about 0.9 to about 1.4 cm. in length and about 0.3 toabout 0.6 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are shapedmoderately oblanceolate to somewhat oblong with rounded apices. Theunder and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar in colorationto the upper and under surface color of the inner petals of the newlyopened flower.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is somewhat heavy and of medium thickness,with upper surfaces somewhat shiny to matte and under surfaces slightlyshiny to matte. The outer petals are nearly rounded in shape withrounded apices. The inner petals are nearly rounded in shape withrounded apices. The petals are about 3.5 to about 5.4 cm. in length andabout 3.5 to about 6.0 cm. in width at the widest point. Petal marginsare entire.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under and upper surface color of the outer and intermediate petalsis between 75C and 75D sometimes moderately blushed toward the petaledges with between 71B and 185C. The blushed coloration is usually moreevident on the under side of the outermost petals. At the point wherethe petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of near 2D.

The under and upper surface color of the inner petals is between 75C and73D.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 75C and 75Dsometimes moderately blushed toward the petal edges with between 71B and185C.

THREE DAY OLD FLOWER

The under and upper surface color of the outer and intermediate petalsis between 76D and 75D sometimes moderately blushed toward the petaledges with between 71C and 60D. The blushed coloration is usually moreevident on the under side of the outermost petals. At the point wherethe petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of near 4D.

The under and upper surface color of the inner petals is between 76D and75D.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 76D and 75Dsometimes moderately blushed toward the petal edges with between 71C and60D.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In October in Upland, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five or more days. Cut roses from plantsgrown outdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generallylast about four to five or more days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 105) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids or tucked inthe calyx. The filaments are of medium to long length (about 0.7 toabout 1.4 cm.), most with anthers. Filaments are between 2D and 4D incolor. The anthers are moderately small to medium for the class and allopen approximately at the same time. Anther color is between 20A and 11Dwhen immature and between 164C and 200B at maturity. Pollen is abundantand between 19A and 22B in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 150). The styles are moderatelyeven, very short in length (about 0.3 to about 0.6 cm.), moderately thinin caliper, and loosely bunched. Stigma color is between 22D and 23D.Style color is between 149D and 150D often lightly suffused near the topwith between 53C and 53D. Ovaries are usually all enclosed in the calyx.

Hips have not been observed on this variety when grown in Upland, Calif.

RECEPTACLE

The receptacle is of average length (about 0.6 to about 1.1 cm.) and ofaverage caliper (about 0.7 to about 1.3 cm. in diameter). The receptacleis globular to almost rounded in form. It surface is very smooth withthick fleshy walls. The receptacle color is between 146A and 146B.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to five or moreleaflets and are borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about12.1 to about 16.4 cm. in length and about 10.6 to about 15.1 cm. inwidth at the widest point, moderately leathery to somewhat crisp intexture, and semi-glossy in finish. The terminal leaflets are about 4.7to about 9.2 cm. in length and about 2.3 to about 5.4 cm. in width atthe widest point, shaped moderately ovate to somewhat oval with acuteapices and rounded bases. Their margins are usually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 147A and 146B. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 146B. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 146A and 148A, usuallyheavily suffused with between 187A and 183B. The under surface color ofthe young leaf is between 146B and 148B, usually heavily suffused withbetween 187C and 183B.

The rachis is of average size caliper and moderately rough. The upperside is moderately grooved with some hairs and stipitate glands on theedges of the grooves. The under side of the rachis is moderately roughwith some stipitate glands and few small prickles. The rachis color isbetween 146C and 147B.

The stipules are about 1.2 to about 1.9 cm. in length and moderatelywide in width (about 0.9 to about 1.5 cm.) with moderately long straightpoints that usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees andsometimes recurve toward the stem. The stipules color is between 137Aand 146B.

The petiole is about 0.8 to about 1.7 cm. in length and about 0.1 toabout 0.2 cm in diameter at the widest point. The petiole color isbetween 146C and 147B.

The plant displays an average degree of resistance to powdery mildew andrust as compared to other commercial varieties grown under comparableconditions in Upland, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has an upright medium height growing habit (about 138 to about154 cm. in height and about 57 to about 72 cm. spread at the widestpoint), with full branching. It displays moderately vigorous growth andthe canes are of moderately heavy caliper for the class.

The color of the major stems is between 146B and 148A. They bear manylarge prickles that are about 0.6 to about 1.2 cm. in length. The largeprickles are almost straight and angled slightly downward with asomewhat long narrow oval base; prickle color is between 166C and 166D.The major stem bears some small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

The color of the branches is between 144A and 148A. They bear many largeprickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickles onthe major stems; prickle color is near 160A sometimes suffused near thebase with between 184A and 183B. The branches bear some small pricklesof similar shape and coloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 146A and 148A often moderatelysuffused with between 187B and 183B. They bear many large prickles whichare of similar size and shape to the large prickles on the major stems;prickle color is between 187B and 183B. The shoots bear some smallprickles of similar shape and coloration.

1. A new and distinct Hybrid Tea rose plant of the variety substantiallyas described and illustrated herein.